Lil Mama Bio, Early Life, Career, Net Worth and Salary (2024)

Niatia American rapper, actor, singer, dancer, and popularly known as Lil Mama in the music industry is Jessica Kirkland. As a judge for seven seasons of the American competitive dance reality television series “America’s Best Dance Crew,” the hip-hop recording artist is also a well-known face on television. Lil Mama’s debut album, “VYP (Voice of the Young People),” peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart, and some of her popular tracks have received tens of thousands of internet views. Over the years, the two-time BET Award candidate for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist has also collaborated with a number of well-known singers and musicians, such as Chris Brown, T-Pain, Mishon Ratliff, and Avril Lavigne. She has also appeared in two biopics, “When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story” and “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.” Shawty Go Loose, her most successful and well-known hit to date, features Chris Brown and T-Pain. It is one of her many top singles.

Lil Mama’s Career

Lil Mama is the oldest daughter in her family and comes from a financially struggling background. She initially had a difficult time with life and turned to poetry and dancing for comfort. She used to compose poetry that was an expression of the struggles she faced. Her later career as a rapper has this as its base.

She collaborated with Avril Lavigne on her “Girlfriend” music video after obtaining a deal with Jive Records in late 2006. Under the Jive Records Label, Lil Mama’s debut studio album, “VYP (Voice of the Young People),” was released in 2008.

The album only sold over 66,000 copies in the United States and debuted on the Billboard 200 list at number 25. She garnered three-star reviews from Rolling Stone, US Weekly, and AllMusic, as well as three and a half stars. On the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the U.S. Top Rap Albums chart, the studio album came in at positions 5 and 3, respectively.

Since the publication of her debut album, Lil Mama has collaborated with a number of well-known musicians. Her popular songs include “On & On & On,” “NYNYLALA,” with Snoop Dogg, and “Dough Boy,” with Mishon. At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, she later joined Jay-Z and Alicia Keys in performing the song “Empire State of Mind.”

But she stepped onto the stage and simply started bopping her head to the music, so it was an impromptu performance! Afterward, she explained that she was a tremendous fan of Jay-Z and that she hadn’t meant to offend him.

It was made clear that going forward, all transactions will be performed directly by RCA Records for Lil Mama following the dissolution of Arista Records, Jive Records, and J Records from the RCA Music Group.

Moreover, Lil Mama has made an appearance on the judging panel for Howard Schwartz and Karen Schwartz’s American competitive dance reality television program “America’s Best Dance Crew.” In “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” a 2013 television biographical film about the R&B and hip-hop musical group TLC, she portrayed “Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.”

Lil Mama’s song video “Sausage,” which she released in 2015, featured various themes, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the “Sausage” trend on Vine, and the Caribbean. The song became popular right away, quickly garnering over three million views. The Billboard Music + Twitter rankings also gave it the top spot.

Lil’s Individual Life

On October 4, 1989, Lil Mama was born in Harlem, New York City, the third of eight children. She has five younger siblings and two older brothers. She spent her early years attending Edward R. Murrow High School. She was given the moniker Tiny Mama since she was the family’s eldest daughter. Her early years were lived in destitution. When she lost her mother to breast cancer on December 15, 2007, more challenges arose.

She was mentioned as one of the speakers for the BET and the Hip Hop Sisters Network event, “Women, Money, and Relationships,” which also featured Shanice and Elise Neal. The main goals of the event were to uplift and assist black women in matters including their careers, financial security, families, and men.

Estimated Net Worth

American hip-hop recording artist Lil Mama has a $6 million dollar net worth. She was given the stage name Lil Mama and was born Niatia Jessica Kirkland on October 4, 1989, in Harlem, New York City, New York.